BBC reports that Michael Cohen was paid by Ukraine to set up talks with White House

The BBC reported that Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, "received a secret payment of at least $400,000 to fix talks between the Ukrainian president and President Trump." | Mary Altaffer/AP Photo

BBC’S PAUL WOOD in Kiev: “Trump lawyer ‘paid by Ukraine’ to arrange White House talks”: “Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, received a secret payment of at least $400,000 to fix talks between the Ukrainian president and President Trump, according to sources in Kiev close to those involved.

“The payment was arranged by intermediaries acting for Ukraine’s leader, Petro Poroshenko, the sources said, though Cohen was not registered as a representative of Ukraine as required by U.S. law. The meeting at the White House was last June.

Story Continued Below

“Shortly after the Ukrainian president returned home, his country’s anti-corruption agency stopped its investigation into Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort. … There is no suggestion that Mr. Trump knew about the payment.” https://bbc.in/2kkC374

SPORTS BLINK -- AP at 12:30 p.m.: “ATLANTA (AP) -- NFL owners approve policy allowing players to stay in locker room for national anthem, but they must stand if on field.”

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN … THE DISCHARGE PETITION, which would force a floor vote on a series of immigration bills, is getting awfully close. Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen -- a Republican -- signed this morning, bringing the total to 204. Fourteen more lawmakers gets this thing over the line.

-- RACHAEL BADE with the latest on IMMIGRATION: "Speaker Paul Ryan’s last-ditch effort to stop Republican moderates from forcing votes on immigration proposals is running smack into a familiar roadblock: conservative opposition to a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.

"The Wisconsin Republican and his top lieutenants have been playing shuttle diplomacy between conservatives who oppose any vote on a bipartisan solution for Dreamers, and moderates who demanding one. Leaders of the factions will convene Wednesday afternoon to continue talks in hopes of coming to an agreement that would stop a discharge petition filed by moderate Republicans and Democrats." https://politi.co/2LlK8oi

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… former Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at the Almaty Airport in Kazakhstan. He was there to speak at the 2018 Eurasian Media Forum after a flight from Seoul to Almaty (h/t Roger Fisk) … Newt Gingrich having dinner with Reince Priebus last night at Charlie Palmer Steak

BOOK THOSE FLIGHTS TO SINGAPORE! -- “Pompeo says Trump-Kim summit still set for June 12,” by Nahal Toosi: “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says President Donald Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is ‘still scheduled for June 12,’ despite suggestions by Trump that the historic gathering could be delayed.

“Pompeo spoke about the preparations on Wednesday morning during an appearance before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He said the U.S. will push Pyongyang for an agreement that will lead toward ‘the complete, verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.’” https://politi.co/2xc0qNQ

-- BUT … TRUMP TODAY ON THE SUMMIT: “We’re going to see what happens on Singapore, we're going to see. And it could happen, could very well happen, but whatever it is, we will know next week about Singapore and if we go, it will be a great thing for North Korea.”

“Someday a date will absolutely happen. It could very well be June 12th. We’ll see. We’ll know next week.”

TWO IMPORTANT UPDATES …

POLITICO BARRED AT EPA SUMMIT … EMILY HOLDEN: “EPA bars reporters from toxic chemicals summit again”: “EPA staff Wednesday morning barred POLITICO and reporters from at least two other publications from entering a national summit on toxic chemicals, a day after a partial media blackout at the same event brought criticism from congressional Democrats and a pledge by the White House to investigate the incident. …

“The event, where attendees are discussing whether and how to regulate a class of chemicals linked to immune disorders and certain cancers, included federal and state officials, health groups and industry interests on Tuesday. Wednesday, it is limited to the agencies that handle chemical oversight and state regulators, according to an EPA statement.” https://politi.co/2Lqp28j

-- Statement from POLITICO editor Carrie Budoff Brown: “The summit was focused on an important public health crisis that has affected drinking water supplies across the country, and chemicals that are present in the bloodstreams of nearly all Americans. We believe it is important that the news media have access to the entirety of this discussion to keep the public informed with fact-driven, accountability coverage of this important issue -- we would much rather be writing about the agency’s efforts to address this health problem than about reporters being excluded.”

WHERE IS THE RESCISSIONS PACKAGE?! -- “Trump in talks to cancel some budget cutbacks,” by Sarah Ferris and Kaitlyn Burton: “The White House is already in talks about canceling cutbacks for a wastewater treatment program at the EPA, according to two Republicans familiar with the discussions. The administration might also scale back cuts for Ebola funding and disaster relief, the aides said.

“The Trump administration’s $15.3 billion plan to reel back unspent federal cash still lacks the votes in the GOP-dominated House, pushing back any action until after the weeklong Memorial Day recess.

“‘We never anticipated the kind of pushback we would have in our own conference on this rescissions package,’ Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), a key proponent of the package, told POLITICO on Tuesday. ‘We’re having to go back and now get the messaging correct,’ the Republican Study Committee chief said, adding that the House actually seems ‘further’ away from the needed 218 votes than it was last week.” https://politi.co/2x5xqqZ

-- HA! The old “the messaging isn’t right” excuse. Actually, Mr. Walker, it’s an election year, and Republicans don’t want to open themselves up to criticism by cutting a bunch of spending.

BIG MONEY ALERT … NEW REPUBLICAN PAC spent another $566,757.58 on ads against SEN. BILL NELSON (D-FLA.). As of May, this PAC has spent $2,209,602 on Florida’s Senate race.. … THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE just dropped a quarter-million bucks on media boosting Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Calif.).

“SMARTEST MAN IN WASHINGTON” … ABBE LOWELL, who is representing Jared Kushner in the Russia investigation, is joining Winston & Strawn as a partner. He most recently was at Norton Rose Fulbright, where he was co-head of its U.S. regulations, investigations, securities and compliance practice. The release https://prn.to/2LohbZ3

CAMPAIGN STOP -- SCOOP … TRUMP STAFFS UP -- Alex Isenstadt: “President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign has tapped veteran GOP strategist Chris Carr to serve as political director, a move aimed at helping to bring order to the Republican Party ahead of the 2018 midterms. … He has been charged with helping to coordinate Republican activities and will work as an intermediary between Trump’s political operation and GOP campaign committees and candidates, according to people briefed on the move. He will also work with White House political director Bill Stepien. …

“During the 2016 campaign, he served as political director at the [RNC]. He worked at the RNC in 2012 and at the [NRCC] during the 2010 midterms. Carr also has extensive experience in Nevada, most recently serving as senior vice president at the Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts.” https://politi.co/2x7pKEB

A SMART TAKE … WAPO’S PAUL KANE: “Republicans wanted a weak speaker. They’ve succeeded, and then some”: “House Republicans made a calculated decision eight years ago as they began their campaign for the majority: They wanted a weak speaker.

“So their 2010 campaign-style document -- ‘A Pledge to America,’ crafted at the time by a backbench Republican, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) -- vowed to reform the process and empower rank-and-file lawmakers to take part in drafting policy. Leaders were forbidden from rushing bills to the House floor and forced to demonstrate the constitutional veracity of any bill introduced.

“The ‘Pledge’ did not cure the disease of legislative dysfunction. But Republicans sure have succeeded in weakening the House speaker in terms of dictating the outcome of legislative battles and in exposing the current occupant to periodic eviction threats.

“Now, eight years later, as McCarthy’s allies rally support for his own bid for speaker, one thing is all but certain: If McCarthy, currently the No. 2 GOP leader, ever does claim the gavel, he will almost certainly be a weak speaker worried about ideological threats within the House Republican Conference.” https://wapo.st/2IGOjcy

THE INVESTIGATIONS …

-- VERY INTERESTING: “How the Mueller Investigation Could Play Out for Trump,” by NYT’s Mike Schmidt, Charlie Savage, Alicia Parlapiano, Anjali Singhvi and Troy Griggs: “An indictment is one possibility that has grown increasingly unlikely. The office of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, has told the president's lawyers that it plans to abide by the Justice Department’s view that sitting presidents cannot be indicted no matter what the evidence shows. Still, if Mr. Mueller finds wrongdoing, Mr. Trump could be indicted after he leaves office.

“But for now, there are several other potential outcomes while Mr. Trump is president. The New York Times spoke to defense lawyers, legal experts and former Justice Department officials to determine how the Mueller investigation may play out for Mr. Trump. The Times explored the likeliest outcomes in this little-tested area of the law [which include finding no wrongdoing, writing a report for that he hopes will reach Congress, the ‘Nixon option’ and indicting the president].” Featuring a video of Mike Schmidt explaining the outcomeshttps://nyti.ms/2x4hZiB

HARASSMENT FILES -- “Senators unveil proposal to overhaul Capitol Hill harassment policy,” by Elana Schor: “Senior senators in both parties on Wednesday released a proposal to overhaul Capitol Hill's sexual harassment policy with the blessing of GOP and Democratic leaders, setting the stage for passage as soon as this week.

“The agreement reached by Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and the committee's top Democrat, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, broadly aligns with a House-passed plan to modernize the Hill’s workplace misconduct system. Both bills would require lawmakers to personally pay the cost of harassment claims that stem from their behavior, while eliminating the mandatory counseling and mediation periods that had forced victims to wait months before seeing any action on their allegations.

“But there are a few key differences between the Senate and House’s bipartisan measures. The Senate specifically defines cases of harassment for which lawmakers would be held personally liable, for instance, while the House-passed bill adopted a more expansive view of cases in which personal liability would be triggered. The House bill also extends subpoena power to the general counsel in the Hill’s Office of Compliance, which adjudicates workplace misconduct complaints, while the Senate version does not.” https://politi.co/2x5H2lt

ON THE WORLD STAGE -- “State Department issues warning to Americans in China after possible sonic attack,” by Louis Nelson https://politi.co/2LqRTto

FOR YOUR RADAR – “Deep in the Desert, Iran Quietly Advances Missile Technology,” by NYT’s Max Fisher: “[W]ork ... now appears to focus on advanced rocket engines and rocket fuel, and is often conducted under cover of night. It is possible that the facility is developing only medium-range missiles, which Iran already possesses, or perhaps an unusually sophisticated space program.

“But an analysis of structures and ground markings at the facility strongly suggests, though does not prove, that it is developing the technology for long-range missiles ... researchers say. Such a program would not violate the international deal intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, or any other formal agreement. Still, if completed, it could threaten Europe and potentially the United States.” https://nyti.ms/2J3BRHt

TROUBLING -- “FBI repeatedly overstated encryption threat figures to Congress, public,” by WaPo’s Devlin Barrett: “The FBI has repeatedly provided grossly inflated statistics to Congress and the public about the extent of problems posed by encrypted cellphones, claiming investigators were locked out of nearly 7,800 devices connected to crimes last year when the correct number was much smaller, probably between 1,000 and 2,000, The Washington Post has learned.

“Over a period of seven months, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray cited the inflated figure as the most compelling evidence for the need to address what the FBI calls ‘Going Dark’ -- the spread of encrypted software that can block investigators’ access to digital data even with a court order. The FBI first became aware of the miscount about a month ago and still does not have an accurate count of how many encrypted phones they received as part of criminal investigations last year, officials said.” https://wapo.st/2IGwcI3

ON THE PRESIDENT’S MIND -- @realDonaldTrump at 6:54 a.m.: “Look how things have turned around on the Criminal Deep State. They go after Phony Collusion with Russia, a made up Scam, and end up getting caught in a major SPY scandal the likes of which this country may never have seen before! What goes around, comes around!” … at 7:12 a.m.: “SPYGATE could be one of the biggest political scandals in history!” …

… at 7:55 a.m.: “Our Trade Deal with China is moving along nicely, but in the end we will probably have to use a different structure in that this will be too hard to get done and to verify results after completion.”

… at 7:58 a.m.: “Big legislation will be signed by me shortly. After many years, RIGHT TO TRY and big changes to DODD FRANK.” … at 9:18 a.m.: “There will be big news coming soon for our great American Autoworkers. After many decades of losing your jobs to other countries, you have waited long enough!” The president also sent out several other tweets bashing the Russia investigation and praised conservative commentator Tomi Lahren.

BUSINESS BURST -- “Washington Inc. embraces cryptocurrencies,” by Patrick-Temple West and Colin Wilhelm: “As digital currencies face a growing threat of government regulation, companies and trade associations are increasingly enlisting help from K Street. For the first time in their lobbying disclosures, three big trade groups have listed cryptocurrency as an issue: the Association of National Advertisers, the Investment Company Institute and the National Venture Capital Association. … Neema, a payments processor, hired Bradley Tusk, who managed Michael Bloomberg’s 2009 mayoral reelection campaign and who now runs a venture capital firm.” https://politi.co/2GHvWCP

MEDIAWATCH -- “A Top Bannon Ally Leaves Breitbart: The site, whose influence has faded since last year, is losing its London editor Raheem Kassam,” by The Atlantic’s Rosie Gray: “Kassam was one of the last staunch allies of Bannon still working there. … As for what he’ll do next, Kassam said he’s joined the advisory board for ISSEP, the political training school for right-wing leaders being launched by Marion Maréchal Le Pen, the niece of Front National leader Marine Le Pen. Its website lists him as a ‘member of the scientific council.’” https://theatln.tc/2IFB7J9

REMEMBERING FAITH RYAN WHITTLESEY – Bonnie L. Cook in Philly.com: “Faith Ryan Whittlesey, 79, a former top aide in the Reagan White House and two-time U.S. ambassador to Switzerland, died Monday ... of cancer at her home in Washington. Mrs. Whittlesey ... was a powerful, charismatic figure and an early supporter of Ronald Reagan as the Republican candidate for president. ... [A]s ambassador to Switzerland ... [s]he hosted Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev during the Geneva Summit of November 1985.” http://bit.ly/2IGyti6

TRANSITIONS -- Bridget Early is the new executive director of the National Public Pension Coalition. She is the former director of legislative and political affairs of the Chicago Federation of Labor.

-- Steven Overly: “Waymo has elevated Tekedra Mawakana to the role of chief external officer, a position that oversees public policy and government relations as well as marketing, social initiatives and communications, the company said.” For Proshttp://bit.ly/2LpOfjx

-- TRUMP ALUMNI: “Former Trump aide targets ‘activist’ climate investors,” by Alex Guillén: “A former energy adviser to President Donald Trump will head up a new campaign to stop major investors from using shareholder votes to press companies to act on climate change. George David Banks, who left the White House in February, will lead the Main Street Investors Coalition, which is backed by groups like the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Council for Capital Formation.” For Proshttp://bit.ly/2x6bZpp

WELCOME TO THE WORLD -- Michael J. Kennedy, VP of global government relations and public policy at VMware and former chief of staff to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and Natalie Kennedy, an alum of former Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), welcomed Rose Natalie Kennedy. Picshttp://bit.ly/2LnnlbW ... http://bit.ly/2IDo5f6

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